Here is the latest from Games Workshop for what will happen to all the existing Battletomes in 4th Edition Age of Sigmar!
Every single Warscroll is changing in the new edition, along with new books, core changes, and more! This is going to be a big shakeup to the game; here’s what we know so far about what to expect for your battletomes and when new books will come out in 4th Edition.
What Will Happen To Battletomes in 4th Edition Age of Sigmar
Here is the latest on the 4th Edition changes coming for Age of Sigmar from Warhammer Community.
With changes this fundamental to the core building blocks of the game, it does mean that previous rules and rulebooks have been superseded. Every current Battletome will be retired when the new edition drops – but every Faction will receive a free downloadable Index on or shortly after release.
These Indexes provide a competitive and satisfying experience right from the outset. You’ll be able to buy physical Faction Packs from the outset, which contain your army rule, subfaction rules, enhancements including spell lores, and all your warscroll cards for both Spearhead and regular Warhammer Age of Sigmar. And of course, these Indexes will be replaced by new-look Battletomes for every faction as the edition matures.
Just like with 10th Edition 40k, all the existing books will be going by the wayside, which can be a little upsetting if you are one of the latest battletomes. However, none of the books will be usable, but at least you will be able to get free rules from the outset.
AoS 4th Edition Battletome Roadmap
This is the latest roadmap we got for AoS. We’ve since seen all these books come out, and GW hasn’t expanded it quite yet. And while it doesn’t go through 2024 and 4th Edition, we do have some to compare to when looking at the 40k side of things.
This is what we have for 10th Edition 40k, and GW has revealed the first 12 books for the game. The initial roadmap was revealed at Warhammer Fest 2023, so hopefully, we can expect something similar for AoS this year. We might not get 12 books and such a long roadmap, but keep your eyes peeled, as we saw this pretty early on for 40k.
However, GW did confirm Skaven versus Stormcast for the starter, so we at least know what the first two armies receiving battletomes will be.
Rules Changes Coming to 4th Edition AoS
The Core Rules have been updated for the first time since 2015, with a focus on streamlining and accessibility without sacrificing the game’s depth. They also promise every warscroll will fit on a single one-sided card. Just like with every edition, this also means every Warscroll and points will change. This means you’re going to have to do some refining to your current armies, but they do say list building will be easier than currently.
Reacting During Opponent’s Turn
The updated system of command points and abilities offers more opportunities for players to react to their opponent’s turn. They mentioned two huge reactions: First, you can cast spells during your opponent’s turn. Then, maybe even more interestingly, you can also charge during your opponent’s turn! While they didn’t give more details, just those two changes seem huge right off the bat.
New Underdog (Gambit) Mechanic
They will also implement the underdog mechanic, which sounds very much like Gambits from 10th Edition Warhammer 40k. If you’re way down in victory points, you can try to complete one really hard-to-do mission and score a bunch of points. Gambits let you add a large chunk of points, completing tasks like getting units to objectives and corners or killing enemy units.
More Impactful Battlefield Terrain
Before we move on, they also say terrain will be more impactful, but we’re not sure if that means changes to all terrain or faction-specific pieces.
4th Age of Sigmar Edition Rules: Changes to the Double Turn
To get the double turn now, you must pay a heavy cost. This could mean a few things, but maybe the most important is the huge cost of command points. You might have to build them up for a couple of turns and spend a bunch to get the double turn. Or, it could be something to do with victory points. Either way, the double turn is sticking around, but going to see some big changes.
Free AoS Rules At Launch
Just like for 10th Edition 40k, they have promised free rules for every faction at launch (called faction packs). Then, as new books come out, they will come with a price tag. They don’t say much about individual army faction changes, but this could be a big shakeup to the meta.
The points will also be free online at launch but not included in the faction packs. The packs will include everything you need specific to your faction, including traits, spells, prayers, and much more.
In conclusion, 4th Edition Age of Sigmar is set to bring about significant changes to the game. While some players may be apprehensive about the retirement of existing Age of Sigmar battletomes, the free downloadable Indexes for every faction promise to provide a competitive and satisfying experience right from the outset.
With the promise of easier list building, the ability to react during your opponent’s turn, and impactful battlefield terrain, there’s a lot to look forward to in this new edition of Age of Sigmar.
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What do you think about the rules changes to 4th Edition Age of Sigmar and Battletomes so far? What books do you expect to see first?
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
